Miguel Tejada timeline

Dec. 14, 2003 -- Tejada, a former American League Most Valuable Player with the Oakland Athletics, signs a six-year, $72 million deal with the Orioles, who are desperate to add a star player to a floundering franchise. At his introductory news conference, Tejada vows that the Orioles would be losers no more.

Oct. 3, 2004 -- Tejada drives in his franchise-record 150th run in the Orioles' season-closing 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. It completes one of the finest offensive seasons in Orioles history as Tejada also hits .311 with 34 home runs and leads the majors in RBIs. He finishes fifth in MVP balloting, though Carlos Delgado is among several players who backed Tejada for the award.

July 12, 2005 -- A year after winning the home run derby at the midsummer classic, Tejada has an even more memorable All-Star trip, winning the Most Valuable Player in the American League's 7-5 victory at Comerica Park in Detroit. One of four Orioles to be selected for the game, Tejada hits a towering homer off Atlanta Braves ace John Smoltz, and finishes 1-for-3 with two RBIs.

Sept. 22, 2005 -- The Sun learns that former Orioles first baseman Rafael Palmeiro, who was suspended for failing a steroid test, told an arbitration panel he tested positive after receiving a vial of liquid vitamin B-12 from Tejada. Tejada was eventually cleared from any wrongdoing.

Dec. 8, 2005 -- Unhappy with the front office's offseason inactivity, Tejada tells an Associated Press reporter in his native Dominican Republic that the "best thing" for him is "a change of scenery" from the Orioles. His pronouncement shocks club officials, who entertain trade offers for several weeks before Tejada ultimately rescinds his request.

July 31, 2006 -- The trade deadline comes and goes with Tejada remaining an Oriole after several teams, most notably the Los Angeles Angels, can't match the Orioles' asking price. As it turns out, this was the organization's best opportunity to move Tejada when his value was at its peak.

Oct. 1, 2006 -- The Los Angeles Times reports that Tejada and teammates Jay Gibbons and Brian Roberts were named as "anabolic steroid" users by former teammate Jason Grimsley in a federal affidavit earlier that year. All three players emphatically deny the accusation.

June 22, 2007 -- Two days after getting hit by a pitch by San Diego Padres reliever Doug Brocail, Tejada heads to the disabled list with a fractured bone on his left wrist. It ends his streak of 1,152 games played, the fifth longest in baseball history.

Sept. 29, 2007 -- In a 45-minute meeting away from Camden Yards with president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, Tejada reiterates his unwillingness to move from shortstop to third base for a non-contending team. Tejada did not ask for a trade, but made it clear he's not interested in being on a rebuilding team.

Dec. 12, 2007 -- In MacPhail's first big move in overhauling a flawed and expensive roster, Tejada is traded to the Houston Astros for outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate, and third baseman Michael Costanzo.